Fruit-gatherer



Y (No Model.)

C. H. CURTIS. FRUIT GATHBRER.

No. 405,017. `PatentedJune 1l, 1889.

N. PETERS. Phuwuuwgmpmr. washington; D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

CHARLES H. CURTIS, OF ASTOR, FLORIDA.

FRUIT-GATHERER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,017, dated June 11, 1889.

Application tiled September 3, 1888. Serial No. 284,408. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. CURTIS, of Astor, in the county of Lake and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Clippers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, that will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming'a part of this specification.

My present invention is an improvement upon the device for which a patent was granted to me June 7, 1887, No. 364,222.

The object of this invention is to' improve the means for securing the device to the hand, so that the same may be readily adj usted to fit a hand of any size, and also to change other features from those shown in the patent referred to, whereby the cuttingblade may be more conveniently operated when grasping the orangeor other fruit in the same hand to which the clipper is attached.

Figure l is a view in perspective of a de vice embodying my improved features; Fig. 2, an elevation and detached view of the clam'p for securing the device to the hand; and Fig. 3, a section in plane 3, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a plate, which may be of a triangularform; B, a cutting-blade pivoted to the upper side of said plate, and C a clamping-strap for securing the device to the hand.

The vibrating cutting-blade B is mounted on the upper side of the plate A, and is pivoted thereto at c. The back end of this blade is provided with the post a and the opposite end with the cutting-edge a2, which is caused to traverse the notch a3 in the plate by means of the foreinger engaging with the post a" and drawing inwardly.

The fruit is grasped by the hand to which the clipper is attached,the stem of the orange or other fruit being brought into the notch a3 while in the act of grasping, and is then severed from the branch by the movement of the cutting-blade, as described.

The cu tting-blade is automatically returned to the normal position by means of the spiral spring a4, held in place with reference to the plate and blade by the cap a5, attached to said plate bythe screws a6. The pin a7 forms a stop for the blade when released from the pressure of the finger. l

The clamp C, for attaching the device to the hand, is of a shape or form corresponding to the contour of the palm and back of the hand between the thumb and foren ger, lthe curved part or back piece b passing down over the back of the hand and the part b extending into the palm.

b2 is a concavo-convex plate placed inside of the palm part of the clamp. This plate is loosely .suspended from the upper end on the pin b3, so that the lower part may be forced or set into the palm of the hand by means of the thumb-screw b4, having a screw-threaded engagement with the inner or palm part of the clamp.

The clamp C is provided with the lugD for attaching the same to the plate A. This lug has the elongated slot d, whereby the clamp may be moved nearer to or farther away from the plate, as the size or shape of the hand may require. The clamp C is adj ustably secured to the plate A by means of the thumb-screw d passing through the slot cl into the plate.

Projecting from the under side of the lug D is the pivot-pin cl2, which is adapt-ed to engage looselyavith any one of a number of perforations d3 in the plate A. This provides for a slight lateral adjustment of the clamp. By this construction and arrangement adjustable means is provided whereby the device may be readily made to fit a hand of any size or shape.

It is obvious that but a very slight change would be required to fit the device for use on the left hand instead of the right, as shown. The thumb-screw for compressing the clamp may also be placed on the back part instead of in the palm of the hand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a fruit-clipper, the combination, with i y the plate A, of a clamping device consisting of the curved back part b, the palm part b', shaped to fit the hand between the thumb and forefinger, a concavo-convex plate loosely attached to the part b', a thumb-screw for setting said plate into the palm of the hand, and the lug D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

TOO

2. In a fruit-clipper, the combination, with the plate A, of a clamping or attaching device consisting of the parts L b', clasping the hand between the thumb and foreiinger, and provided with thelug D, and the means described for adjust-ablysecuring said elainp in relation to the plate A, Substantially as and for the purpose set fort-,11.

3. In a f1L1it-c1ippe1,tl1e combination, with the plate A, Jrovded with a number of perforations, of a clamp provided with Ihe lug D, having the elongated slot cl, the thumb-screw CZ', and the pivot-pin cl2, projecting from the unl der side of said lug and engaging with said perforations, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

J. E. JONES, UHAS. SMITH. 

